Bigger but not exactly better, the reboot to the Spider-man franchise lacks the humor of its predecessor, but the good casting choices--particularly the pairing of Andrew Garfield with Emma Stone--makes the movie entertaining and gripping in its own right, one rife with heart and action.
The Good
- that on-screen chemistry between Garfield and Stone
- nicely cast
- a gripping plot
The Bad
- Can be dismissed as unnecessary reboot due to its predecessor having a better lead and an overall better treatment of its material.
- Never quite establishes its characters, failing to cite a reason why Peter stands up against the bullies but not criminals.
Synopsis
Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is a normal highschool student living with his Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Michael Sheen) after his mother and father left him to them at a very early age. Peter grew up with this chip on his shoulder, always having a gap to fill. In pursuit of filling that gap, Peter stands up to the bullies in search of human intimacy or purpose--and it doesn't always go well. This particular trait caught the attention of his highschool crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Watson), who happens to be an associate at Oscorp where his father's former lab partner, Dr. Curt Connors, works as head of human tissue regeneration research. In search for answers, Parker takes to asking Connors himself and, in the process, got bitten by a radioactive spider that starts his life as a rebel and as Spider-man.
Teenage Dirtbag
Considering that Spider-man was in highschool in the comics when he got bitten by the radioactive spider, it surprised me that Sam Raimi had a mostly late 20s cast on his 2002's Spider-man (Maguire was 27 then and Peter Parker was 16). Webb decided to go with teenagers this time and chose a mostly younger-looking cast. You might be surprised to know, however, that Andrew Garfield is actually 28 when he was cast and Stone, 22. Though because of perhaps how skinny Garfield is, and how--well--young Stone is, they actually look the age for the comic book hero reboot.
It Takes Two to Tango
It Takes Two to Tango
For some reason, when you say Spider-man movie, the scene that pops to my mind is that upside down kiss between Tobey and Kirsten circa 2002. And that's because the first movie is so iconic and fun, it imprints itself to memory very easily. And also probably because it follows the comic book canon more closely than this reboot. I cannot say the same for this reboot. As with most Marvel movies nowadays, a lot of elements has been lifted from the Ultimate Marvel series. The darker tone of the movie probably had been derived from Ultimate Marvel timeline, and I wouldn't say that Marc Webb had an easy time with this. Storytelling for a great part of the first hour is a bit sloppy and leaves mess like a toddler, not really provoking one to think or at least enthrall its audience. But it gets better after the first hour.
Casting Garfield is both good and bad. On the good side, Garfield can be a really charming teen who is unsure about life and has a natural rebel in him that fit Marc Webb's idea for the refresh. On the other end, he can be a bit dull, not having the same humor and finesse that Tobey's Parker has. At best, he is full of angst and determined, though he works best paired with Emma Stone. Their pairing was a blessing to the movie, as on-screen, the pair really works--making for a cutesy couple with a believable tension and grip.
Martin Sheen was, well, mostly angry and detached as Uncle Ben--almost always strict and ready to reprimand Peter, but caring nevertheless. Just not sure is Sheen was proper for the role, I was expecting him to implode and I was disappointed when he didn't. Sally Field was far far from the Aunt May in Sam Raimi's Spiderman. This one was more antagonistic or at least less expressively caring for Peter, as opposed to the snoopy and sneaky, overly protective Aunt May in Raimi's.
On the plus side, technically, this is a better film compared to Raimi's, given the technological advances from 2002 to 2012. The CGI is more believable. And I have to give it to Webb (he, btw, directed 500 Days of Summer) for taking on an enormous job, and coming out nearly unscathed--giving Spidey more grit and making Peter less of a nerd but more of a rebel. Sure, it is similar to Raimi's, but it had a notably darker undertone, which might be how this new franchise is going to be. He did manage to translate the material to film albeit rather confused and dull at time, and at the obvious risk of being compared to the fun ride that was Raimi's Spider-man. Webb's was an antihero, a defiant kid who always had a piece of him missing, while Raimi's was a geek who loved the world, got powers, and forgot the very lessons that made him. Sure, this adaptation has its weaknesses, but in the end, comes as a whole, capable of delighting and entertaining--and at its best parts, it really is good: the last few scenes are actually very heartfelt and at one point cute, making you want to hug along with Peter and Aunt May.
Though you'd know there is a sequel only because it's a franchise, not because you really want to see one.
Casting Garfield is both good and bad. On the good side, Garfield can be a really charming teen who is unsure about life and has a natural rebel in him that fit Marc Webb's idea for the refresh. On the other end, he can be a bit dull, not having the same humor and finesse that Tobey's Parker has. At best, he is full of angst and determined, though he works best paired with Emma Stone. Their pairing was a blessing to the movie, as on-screen, the pair really works--making for a cutesy couple with a believable tension and grip.
Martin Sheen was, well, mostly angry and detached as Uncle Ben--almost always strict and ready to reprimand Peter, but caring nevertheless. Just not sure is Sheen was proper for the role, I was expecting him to implode and I was disappointed when he didn't. Sally Field was far far from the Aunt May in Sam Raimi's Spiderman. This one was more antagonistic or at least less expressively caring for Peter, as opposed to the snoopy and sneaky, overly protective Aunt May in Raimi's.
On the plus side, technically, this is a better film compared to Raimi's, given the technological advances from 2002 to 2012. The CGI is more believable. And I have to give it to Webb (he, btw, directed 500 Days of Summer) for taking on an enormous job, and coming out nearly unscathed--giving Spidey more grit and making Peter less of a nerd but more of a rebel. Sure, it is similar to Raimi's, but it had a notably darker undertone, which might be how this new franchise is going to be. He did manage to translate the material to film albeit rather confused and dull at time, and at the obvious risk of being compared to the fun ride that was Raimi's Spider-man. Webb's was an antihero, a defiant kid who always had a piece of him missing, while Raimi's was a geek who loved the world, got powers, and forgot the very lessons that made him. Sure, this adaptation has its weaknesses, but in the end, comes as a whole, capable of delighting and entertaining--and at its best parts, it really is good: the last few scenes are actually very heartfelt and at one point cute, making you want to hug along with Peter and Aunt May.
Though you'd know there is a sequel only because it's a franchise, not because you really want to see one.
My verdict:
A slow Marvel with grit, but does get boring and confused. I had fun but can't really recommend it. A passing mark of 4/5.
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